Pictured above: Michael O’Dea receiving his award on behalf of Castlejane Burial Ground. Also in the picture are Mairead O’Donovan, Administrative Director of Environmental Services, Kevin Sheahan, Mayor of Limerick City and County and Kieran Lehane, Director of Environmental Services, Limerick City and County Council.

Sean Hayes and Maurice O’Connor receive their award on behalf of Kilcoleman Burial Ground Extension. Kilcoleman were also the overall winners in the Modern Category. Also in the picture are Mairead O’Donovan, Administrative Director of Environmental Services, Kevin Sheahan, Mayor of Limerick City and County and Kieran Lehane, Director of Environmental Services, Limerick City and County Council

Burial grounds in Knocklong and Kilcoleman, Rathkeale have been named overall winners of the 2014 County Limerick Burial Grounds Awards which were announced at a ceremony held at The Woodlands House Hotel, Adare, County Limerick last Thursday, 11 December 2014.

Voluntary parish committees, community councils, groups and individuals from across County Limerick participated in the 7th annual awards scheme, which is organised by the Environment Section of Limerick City and County Council.

The awards scheme involves two categories, ancient and modern and awarded individual winners for the County’s four areas.

Castlejane, Knocklong achieved the overall winner’s award in the Ancient section and Kilcoleman, Rathkeale was named the overall winner of the Modern section.

Councillor Kevin Sheahan, Mayor of Limerick City and County Council attended the awards ceremony and congratulated participants for their efforts to maintain burial grounds throughout the County during the year. He particularly acknowledged the spirit of volunteerism which exists amongst burial ground committees throughout County Limerick.

He stated: “The Council’s Environment Section, which manages the County’s graveyards, depends very heavily on the combined hard work and commitment of community groups and individuals for the upkeep and maintenance of the County’s burial grounds. For the past 7 years, the Council has run the Burial Grounds Awards ceremony to recognise the hard work of the many hundreds of people involved. I am glad to see that the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in County Limerick.”

Kieran Lehane, Director of Service stated: “Each year, the Council assists the work of local burial ground committees through a modest grant. A large number of groups and individuals looking after burial grounds throughout the County have this year benefited from such grants. The work carried out has assisted the Council in its management of the County’s burial grounds and for that we are extremely grateful.”